Rep. Noble Ellington in line for post with Insurance Department

Rep.
Noble Ellington, R-Winnsboro, is expected to land a top-level job at
the state Department of Insurance, possibly chief deputy to Insurance
Commissioner Jim Donelon. Several lawmakers close to Ellington said that
he is expected to be in his new job no later than February.

Rep. Noble Ellington, R-Winnsboro

Donelon
was out of town and could not be reached for comment, department
spokeswoman Lori Cherry said. "We have talked," Ellington said of
meetings he has had with Donelon about a possible job. "If there is
going to be an announcement anytime soon, it should come from the
commissioner."

Earlier this year, the 69-year-old cotton merchant
announced he would not run again for re-election. Ellington has served
in the Louisiana Legislature
since 1988. He was in the House from 1988 to 1995, in the Senate from
1996 to 2007 and back in the House from 2007 to the present. He was
elected as a Democrat but became a Republican last year.

Ellington
was a member of the Rural Caucus and of the House Appropriations
Committee, and was vice chairman of the Legislative Audit Advisory
Council in his final term. He also served as chairman of the
conservative American Legislative Exchange Council.